Question
My child is now four years old and has had irregular stools for nearly a month: the stools are not well-formed, resembling a paste, and are somewhat sticky, difficult to flush, occurring once a day, and they eat well. Experts, what could be the cause? Do we need to use traditional Chinese medicine or patent medicine for management? How should we manage this?
Answer
Improper diet can also lead to constipation, such as consuming too much fish and eggs while lacking the intake of grains and vegetables. In addition, irregular lifestyle in children, not having a regular schedule for sleep and defecation, as well as certain pathological conditions such as congenital megacolon, congenital anal stenosis, and hypothyroidism are all factors that can cause pediatric constipation. To prevent and treat pediatric constipation, the first point to note is the correct guidance from parents. Signal the child before defecation and try to keep the timing relatively fixed each day to gradually adapt them to regular defecation; if the child does not defecate, do not force them, nor should you make them sit on the toilet for a long time. In terms of diet, it is appropriate to provide some refined foods, vegetables, sweet potatoes, and fruits. For children who frequently experience constipation, in addition to training defecation habits, some drugs that promote peristalsis and moisturize the intestines can also be given intermittently.